Sadly if most computers weren't 'walled garden' experiences then maybe the kids could learn to tinker and fix them. As it is if the issue can't be fixed from a settings app then they're stuck.
Almost anything involving the space-magic Enterprise D dish between the engine nacels:
Need more power? Modify the main deflector and divert power from shields.
Space anomoly? Bombard it with tachyon particles from the main deflector.
Need to modulate frequency of phaser array because a borg cube adapted to your weapons? Use the main deflector to send a resonance pulse and overwhelm their shields with a flood of positronic particles.
I understand it's a bit deflated, but my god. I reckon the smugglers could've landed at least six figures for a truck sized haul of hard drugs, so surely they could afford a better disguising apparatus than balloons.
Good question. Having not played the PC port myself, I only know that it was addressed by the studio (and/or publisher?), and that people stopped talking about it after a couple months. I personally concluded that the game must've been fixed to some degree.
Interesting! Though on closer inspection that sign appears to be interstate 494, which is based out of Minnesota. Wikipedia says their hands-free traffic law took effect on August 1st 2019. That time of year, quality of photo, and car models seem to line up with that image.
Was this written in 2002?